According to DOE's website, their VPP was initiated in January 1994 to promote improved safety and health performance through public recognition of outstanding programs. DOE-VPP also includes coverage of radiation protection and emergency management because of the type and complexity of DOE facilities. Similar to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA's) VPP program, DOE-VPP provides several proven benefits to participating sites, including improved labor/management relations, reduced workplace injuries and illnesses, increased employee involvement, improved morale, reduced absenteeism, and public recognition. Contractors whose programs meet the requirements for outstanding safety and health programs receive STAR recognition, the highest achievement level.

To achieve this milestone, Livermore Operations began laying the groundwork back in April 2006 and each step in the process was achieved with 110% team participation. Brain Ward, LO Environment, Safety, Health, and Quality (ESH&Q) Representative, in concert with the LO VPP Steering Committee, drove the VPP application process. Ward and the Committee also relied upon diligent support received from LO senior staff members, the LO Safety Committee (LOSC), every member of the LO team, key members of the NSTec ESH&Q directorate, as well as support from the local DOE Field Office located at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL).

Through the tireless efforts of Ward, and everyone involved, the application was officially submitted to DOE in the first quarter of 2008. After the application was submitted and approved, DOE sent out a VPP Review Team to LO during the first week of December 2008. Based upon the LO team's performance during the official DOE on-site review, the VPP Review Team sent in their report to officially recognize that LO had successfully met all the requirements to become a DOE VPP Star Site.

When asked about this milestone, and the recommendation, Ward commented that, "It definitely was a team effort. Everyone at LO went above and beyond expectations. We also had a great deal of support from ESH&Q's Gary Griess, Bruce Hill, Mike Kinney, Tony Marzola, Jeff Mortensen, and Tony Renk. Ultimately, it is LO employees that are the key to a successful VPP program. Without their commitment to active participation in achieving a safe worksite, we would not have achieved the STAR rating."

Ken Cooke, Sr. Manager, added that, "Everyone should be extremely proud of this accomplishment. With Brian's leadership, the commitment of the LO Safety Committee and the senior staff, plus the entire LO team, this process was aggressively pursued, thoroughly researched, and the results speak for themselves. As good corporate citizens, we value safety first; safety of our team members, our neighbors, our community, and the environment."

About National Security Technologies, LLC (NSTec)
National Security Technologies, LLC (NSTec) was formed in 2005 as a joint venture between Northrop Grumman Corporation, AECOM, CH2M Hill, and Nuclear Fuel Services. Each of these companies adds unique value to NSTec, enabling us to "reach back" for best-in-class tools to provide integrated solutions that meet our customer's needs.

Our managing partner, Northrop Grumman Corporation, is a world leader in advanced defense technologies, and has extensive experience in the management of complex operations. AECOM, the world's largest architecture and engineering firm, has decades of experience at the Nevada Test Site as Holmes and Narver. CH2M Hill has demonstrated revolutionary improvements in environmental and waste management. Nuclear Fuel Services brings extensive experience in nuclear operations as the provider of nuclear fuel for the United States (U.S.) Navy's fleet of aircraft carriers and submarines.

NSTec manages operations as the Nevada Test Site and its related facilities and laboratories for the Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Nevada Site Office. NSTec teams with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratories on many programs. NSTec also works on projects for other federal agencies such as the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, NASA, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the U.S. Air Force, Army, and Navy. Our missions include Defense Experimentation and Stockpile Stewardship, Homeland Security and Defense Applications, and Environmental Management.

More than two-thirds of NSTec's employees work in Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, or at the Nevada Test Site (located 65 miles north of Las Vegas). The company has satellite offices in Livermore, California, Los Alamos, New Mexico, Santa Barbara, California, and Washington, D.C. NSTec also has a small number of employees located in nine other states and two foreign countries.